{"id":38749,"date":"2021-01-26T09:40:29","date_gmt":"2021-01-26T15:40:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mbcpathway.com\/?p=38749"},"modified":"2021-01-26T09:40:29","modified_gmt":"2021-01-26T15:40:29","slug":"driven-to-gladness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mbcpathway.com\/2021\/01\/26\/driven-to-gladness\/","title":{"rendered":"Driven to gladness"},"content":{"rendered":"

It looked like the sideview outline of a little robot ducky head. Sort of cute, really. I was shocked when somebody told me it\u2019s the check engine light.<\/span><\/p>\n

That light doesn\u2019t literally mean to check the engine, though, right? Because I feel like my engine is still there whether I check or not.<\/span><\/p>\n

Not that I would know exactly where to find it. If I found it, what then? I\u2019m not equipped for car repairs, people. I once untangled my seatbelt. That exhausted the full scope of my car repair skills.<\/span><\/p>\n

So my plan: ignore the engine light. The car currently works. Everything is fine.<\/span><\/p>\n

I\u2019d prefer to get in the car and go rather than face up to any unpleasantness under the hood any ol\u2019 day. Tap the brakes on that negativity, thanks.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sad to say, I\u2019m also tempted to suggest we save all negative emotions for people who are better equipped for them. All while I\u2019m clicking on my turn signal and speeding off in the other direction. I think I\u2019m better at stuffing ick emotions. Tap the brakes on those. As long as I feel like the engine is fine.<\/span><\/p>\n

Emotions can be so wonderful. And so terrible. The darker ones can keep us from enjoying the blessed life God calls us to live. They can keep us from seeing the glorious blessings of a moment. Or they can send us off on some detour\u2014the opposite direction of the road God is calling us to travel.<\/span><\/p>\n

But the answer is not to ignore feelings. Or stuff them. Some of those emotions refuse to be ignored for long. We can end up with a smoking engine or a weird backfire. Everything is not fine. So, no, we don\u2019t ignore the warning lights. We take our wounds, worries, anxieties, and angers to our Father. Sometimes we may be dealing with them over an extended period. He\u2019s okay with that. We\u2019re under warranty. He is patient and loving and desires to see His children whole.<\/span><\/p>\n

Healthy emotions can be part of the driving engine behind great accomplishments. They might be a spark of inspiration God uses to nudge us in a fruitful direction. Positive emotions are a blessing. And even the not-so-positive ones have value. Emotions are not our enemies. Allowing them to take over and rule our thinking and behavior, however, can be. <\/span><\/p>\n

So what do we do with emotions? First, we recognize them for what they are. Second, we understand that there are times they can\u2019t be trusted. Third, we remember that our feelings need to be sifted through the truth of God. As we come into the presence of the Lord and invite Him to work beyond our feelings, He gives direction and so often gives us a clearer picture of His will for us.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Let His presence fill you and override any errant feelings. Take your counsel from Him as you pray and read His Word. \u201cI will bless the Lord who counsels me\u2014even at night when my thoughts trouble me. I always let the Lord guide me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my whole being rejoices; my body also rests securely\u201d (Psalm 16:7-9 CSB).<\/span><\/p>\n

Whatever direction your feelings are trying to drive you, let His truth steer. You\u2019ll find steadfastness, an all-over gladness and rejoicing, and the most secure rest.<\/span><\/p>\n

That kind of secure rest is a soul thing. Definitely not a car thing. Because, yuh-oh, my car is not only flashing the robot ducky head, now it\u2019s making a sound. It might\u2019ve been a quack. And I think I smell feathers.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Let His presence fill you and override any errant feelings. Take your counsel from Him as you pray and read His Word. \u201cI will bless the Lord who counsels me\u2014even at night when my thoughts trouble me. I always let the Lord guide me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my whole being rejoices; my body also rests securely\u201d (Psalm 16:7-9 CSB).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":38751,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":"","_wpscp_schedule_draft_date":"","_wpscp_schedule_republish_date":"","_wpscppro_advance_schedule":false,"_wpscppro_advance_schedule_date":"","_wpscppro_custom_social_share_image":0,"_facebook_share_type":"","_twitter_share_type":"","_linkedin_share_type":"","_pinterest_share_type":"","_linkedin_share_type_page":"","_selected_social_profile":[]},"categories":[5,29],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\nDriven to gladness<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Let His presence fill you and override any errant feelings. 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